THIRD EPISODE (Enter Aegeus, king of Athens, an old friend of Medea.) Aegeus Medea, greeting! This is the best introduction Of which men know for conversation between friends. Medea Greeting to you too, Aegeus, son of King Pandion. Where have you come from to visit this country's soil? Aegeus I have just left the ancient oracle of Phoebus. Medea And why did you go to earth's prophetic center? Aegeus I went to inquire how children might be born to me. Medea Is it so? Your life still up to this point is childless? Aegeus Yes. By the fate of some power we have no children. Medea Have you a wife, or is there none to share your bed? Aegeus There is. Yes, I am joined to my wife in marriage. Medea And what did Phoebus say to you about children? Aegeus Words too wise for a mere man to guess their meaning. Medea It is proper for me to be told the god's reply? Aegeus It is. For sure what is needed is cleverness. Medea Then what was his message? Tell me, if I may hear. Aegeus I am not to loosen the hanging foot of the wine-skin... Medea Until you have done something, or reached some country? Aegeus Until I return again to my hearth and house. Medea And for what purpose have you journeyed to this land? Aegeus There is a man called Pittheus, king of Troezen. Medea A son of Pelops, they say, a most righteous man. Aegeus With him I wish to discuss the reply of the god. Medea Yes. He is wise and experienced in such matters. Aegeus And to me also the dearest of all my spear-friends. Medea Well, I hope you have good luck, and achieve your will. Aegeus But why this downcast eye of yours, and this pale cheek? Medea O Aegeus, my husband has been the worst of all to me. Aegeus What do you mean? Say clearly what has caused this grief. Medea Jason wrongs me, though I have never injured him. Aegeus What has he done? Tell me about it in clearer words. Medea He has taken a wife to his house, supplanting me. Aegeus Surely he would not dare do a thing like that. Medea Be sure he has. Once dear, I now am slighted by him. Aegeus Did he fall in love? Or is he tired of your love? Medea He was greatly in love, this traitor to his friends. Aegeus Then let him go, if, as you say, he is so bad. Medea A passionate love - for an alliance with the king. Aegeus And who gave him his wife? Tell me the rest of it. Medea It was Creon, he who rules this land of Corinth. Aegeus Indeed, Medea, your grief was understandable. Medea I am ruined. And there is more to come: I am banished. Aegeus Banished? By whom? Here you tell me of a new wrong. Medea Creon drives me an exile from the land of Corinth. Aegeus Does Jason consent? I cannot approve of this. Medea He pretends not to, but he will put up with it. Ah, Aegeus, I beg and beseech you, by your beard And by your knees I am making myself your suppliant, Have pity on me, have pity on your poor friend, And do not let me go into exile desolate, But receive me in your land and at your very hearth. So may your love, with God's help, lead to the bearing Of children, and so you may yourself die happy. You do not know what a chance you have come on here. I will end your childlessness, and I will make you able To beget children. The drugs I know can do this. Aegeus For many reasons, woman, I am anxious to do This favor for you. First, for the sake of the gods, And then for the birth of children which you promise, For in that respect I am entirely at my wits' end. But this is my position: if you reach my land, I, being in my rights, will try to befriend you. But this much I must warn you of beforehand: I shall not agree to take you out of this country; But if you by yourself can reach my house, then you Shall stay there safely. To none will I give you up But from this land you must make your escape yourself, For I do not wish to incur blame from my friends. Medea It shall be so. But, if I might have a pledge from you For this, then I would have from you all I desire. Aegeus Do you not trust me? What is it rankles with you? Medea I trust you, yes. But the house of Pelias hates me, And so does Creon. If you are bound by this oath, When they try to drag me from your land, you will not Abandon me; but if our pact is only words, With no oath to the gods, you will be lightly armed, Unable to resist their summons. I am weak, While they have wealth to help them and a royal house. Aegeus You show much foresight for such negotiations. Well, if you will have it so, I will not refuse. For, both on my side this will be the safest way To have some excuse to put forward to your enemies, And for you it is more certain. You may name the gods. Medea Swear by the plain of Earth, and Helius, father Of my father, and name together all the gods... Aegeus That I will act or not act in what way? Speak. Medea That you yourself will never cast me from your land, Nor, if any of my enemies should demand me, Will you, in your life, willingly hand me over. Aegeus I swear by the Earth, by the holy light of Helius, By all the gods, I will abide by this you say. Medea Enough. And, if you fail, what shall happen to you? Aegeus What comes to those who have no regard for heaven. Medea Go on your way. Farewell. For I am satisfied. And I will reach your city as soon as I can, Having done the deed I have to do and gained my end. (Aegeus goes out.) Chorus May Hermes, god of travelers, Escort you, Aegeus, to your home! And may you have the things you wish So eagerly; for you Appear to me to be a generous man. Medea God, and God's daughter, justice, and light of Helius! Now, friends, has come the time of my triumph over My enemies, and now my foot is on the road. Now I am confident they will pay the penalty. For this man, Aegeus, has been like a harbor to me In all my plans just where I was most distressed. To him I can fasten the cable of my safety When I have reached the town and fortress of Pallas. And now I shall tell you the whole of my plan. Listen to these words that are not spoken idly. I shall send one of my servants to find Jason And request him to come once more into my sight. And when he comes, the words I'll say will be soft ones. I'll say that I agree with him, that I approve The royal wedding he has made, betraying me. I'll say it was profitable, an excellent idea. But I shall beg that my children may remain here: Not that I would leave in a country that hates me Children of mine to feel their enemies' insults, But that by a trick I may kill the king's daughter. For I will send the children with gifts in their hands To carry to the bride, so as not to be banished - A finely woven dress and a golden diadem. And if she takes them and wears them upon her skin She and all who touch the girl will die in agony; Such poison will I lay upon the gifts I send. But there, however, I must leave that account paid. I weep to think of what a deed I have to do Next after that; for I shall kill my own children. My children, there is none who can give them safety. And when I have ruined the whole of Jason's house, I shall leave the land and flee from the murder of my Dear children, and I shall have done a dreadful deed. For it is not bearable to be mocked by enemies. So it must happen. What profit have I in life? I have no land, no home, no refuge from my pain. My mistake was made the time I left behind me My father's house, and trusted the words of a Greek, Who, with heaven's help, will pay me the price for that. For those children he had from me he will never See alive again, nor will he on his new bride Beget another child, for she is to be forced To die a most terrible death by these my poisons. Let no one think me a weak one, feeble-spirited, A stay-at-home, but rather just the opposite, One who can hurt my enemies and help my friends; For the lives of such persons are most remembered. Chorus Since you have shared the knowledge of your plan with us, I both wish to help you and support the normal Ways of mankind, and tell you not to do this thing. Medea I can do no other thing. It is understandable For you to speak thus. You have not suffered as I have. Chorus But can you have the heart to kill your flesh and blood? Medea Yes, for it is the best way to wound my husband. Chorus And you, too. Of women you will be most unhappy. Medea So it must be. No compromise is possible. (She turns to the Nurse.) Go, you, at once, and tell Jason to come to me. You I employ on all affairs of greatest trust. Say nothing of these decisions which I have made, If you love your mistress, if you were born a woman.